Late Update: White had limited practice on Friday and is expected to play according to HC Mike Smith. He was rested earlier because it was a short week.

Early Update: Roddy White has been held out of practices so far to rest a sore knee. No need to change his projections yet but Friday practice will be key to his playing status. Check back if you need White.

The Redskins come off their bye week having lost their last three games and never winning on the road. The Falcons get a short week after losing in New Orleans but are 3-0 at home. If you are in a survivor pool, this is a nice game to pick.

Washington Redskins (2-5)

Homefield: FedEx Field

Grass

Opp

Score

Spread

Over/Under

1

@NYG

17-23

+6.5

37

2

STL

9-7

-10

37

3

@DET

14-19

-6.5

38

4

TB

16-13

-7

37

5

@CAR

17-20

+5

38

6

KC

6-14

-6

37

7

PHI

17-27

+7

37.5

8

BYE

-

-

-

9

@ATL

-

+10

41

10

DEN

-

-

-

11

@DAL

-

-

-

12

@PHI

-

-

-

13

NO

-

-

-

14

@OAK

-

-

-

15

NYG

-

-

-

16

DAL

-

-

-

17

@SD

-

-

-

WAS at ATL

Rush

Catch

Pass

QB

Jason Campbell

250,1

RB

Clinton Portis

60

10

TE

Fed Davis

50

WR

Santana Moss

80,1

WR

Antwaan Randle El

40

WR

Devin Thomas

30

PK

Shaun Suisham

2 FG

1 XP

Pregame Notes: The Redskins come off their bye having spent two weeks to trhink about how dysfunctional the team is getting. HC Jim Zorn remains employed but had the playcalling removed and given to Sherm Lewis who was out of the league since 2004. The best receiver Chris Cooley fractured his ankle and is out for a month or so. Clinton Portis is running like he is in a sack race. The defense remains good but the offense cannot keep pace with any opponent that can score more than once.

Quarterback:Jason Campbell was not replaced with Todd Collins in week seven and he responded with 284 yards and two scores in the home loss to the Redskins. Granted, he was sacked six times, threw an interception and lost a fumble but the Redskins scored 17 points to tie their seaosn high. Campbell will remain a risky play because the Skins won't be shy about yanking him if he starts to play poorly.

The Falcons have allowed most opponents to throw touchdowns but then again most are not the Redskins. Not having Cooley is no help either. But Campbell will be in Atlanta where the last two opponents passed for over 300 yards. Look for decent to good yardage and one score.

Running Backs:Clinton Portis comes off one of his worst showings on the season with only 43 yards on 14 carries when the Eagles showed up in week seven. Portis has only one game with a score adn just once had over 100 rushing yards. He has not gained more than 62 yards on the road this year and not scored.

The Falcons have been very strong against the run in Atlanta this year with only one runner scoring and none having more than 75 rushing yards. Look for more of the mediocre stats from Portis.

Wide Receivers: Devin Thomas had his first touchdown just last week but that came with only three catches for 45 yards - a season high no less, Antwaan Randle El has been relieved of punt return duties but still never scores and settles for less than 40 yards in every game. Santana Moss is the only wideout of any note here and even he has not scored since week four. His only two good games were against the Lions and Buccaneers though the new play calling netted hjim an unusually high six catches for 74 yards against the Eagles.

The Falcons have a weaker secondary and have allowed several wideouts to have a big game though only one scored in Washington. The passing touchdown will end up with Fred Davis or Moss and it is more likely Moss.

Tight Ends:Chris Cooley is expected to miss the next four weeks because of his ankle surgery. He had three pins inserted into his ankle but could be back and productive by the end of November. Fred Davis stepped in and had eight catches for 78 yards and a score when Cooley was injured against the Eagles. That was a better showing than Cooley has produced this year. The Falcons are weaker against tight ends, so Davis is not a terrible play this week. The Falcons give up 50+ yards to most opposing team tight ends.

RANKS (1-32, 1 = BEST)

TEAM

QB

RB

WR

TE

PK

DEF

Gaining Fantasy Points

WAS

20

29

23

7

27

30

Preventing Fantasy Points

ATL

24

22

20

29

18

16

Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

Homefield: Georgia Dome

FieldTurf

Opp

Score

Spread

Over/Under

1

MIA

19-7

-4

43.5

2

CAR

28-20

-6

43

3

@NE

10-26

+4

44.5

4

BYE

-

5

@SF

45-10

+2.5

41

6

CHI

21-14

-3

45.5

7

@DAL

21-37

+5

47.5

8

@NO

27-35

+10

54

9

WAS

-

-10

41

10

@CAR

-

-

-

11

@NYG

-

-

-

12

TB

-

-

-

13

PHI

-

-

-

14

NO

-

-

-

15

@NYJ

-

-

-

16

BUF

-

-

-

17

@TB

-

-

-

ATL vs WAS

Rush

Catch

Pass

QB

Matt Ryan

200,1

RB

Michael Turner

70,1

TE

Tony Gonzalez

60,1

WR

Michael Jenkins

50

WR

Roddy White

70

PK

Jason Elam

2 FG

2 XP

Pregame Notes: The Falcons stumbled in New Orleans but only after giving a valient effort that was undone in part because of missed field goals. The loss leaves the Falcons at 4-3 and three games back of the Saints. But they still have an excellent chance at least of a wild card bid if they can just cure their road problems. This week at home should be a solid win but there is the chance that there is a letdown after the loss in New Orleans. Then again, the Skins cannot score more than 17 points and the Falcons at home should have no problem with topping that even with the short week.

Quarterback: Matt Ryan comes off a Monday night loss where he passed for 289 yards and one score but had three interceptions in New Orleans. He's been on a recent kick about that with seven picks in just the last three games. And he also broke his streak of games with multiple touchdowns but had high yardage from his norm. Ryan at home has yet to pass for more than 230 yards though he has always had two scores in each home game.

The Redskins have allowed every road opponent one passing score and decent yardage. There has not been any game this year where an opponent has passed for two or more scores against them. The highest yardages allowed were all on the road but never more than 256 yards. Look for one passing score and decent yardage with some upside to get a second touchdown.

Running Backs:Michael Turner has been a but light in yardage in many games but he has scored in each of the last six games no matter where it was played. His 151 rushing yards on 20 carries last Monday was easily a season high and only his second time over 100 yards this year.

The Redskins have been very solid against the run and allowed just two rushing scores but Turner is a man on a mission when it comes to scoring. And the Skins have not been facing the best of rushign attacks as well. The yardage will remain mediocre here unless Turner can break some long runs as he did in New Orleans but so far he has been a safe bet for that touchdown anyway.

Wide Receivers:Roddy White scored in his fourth straight game and has six touxchdowns on the season and two efforts over 100 yards. There has been only one other score to a wideout this year and Michael Jenkins remains the #2 that never scores and drops too many passes, He had 66 yards on four catches last week but most of his efforts have been less than 40 yards each week. Marty Booker or Brian Finneran fill in for marginal production and have no catches some weeks.

The Redskins have been very good against the wide receivers and allowed only five touchdowns to the position all year long. The wideouts that did score were typically not the #1 for their team and the Falcons make it a little easier by only using White to any large extent. Look for only marginal numbers here. White always has upside but the Skins will be paying him plenty of attention.

Tight Ends: Time for Tony Gonzalez to get a touchdown. He had a very nice game in New Orleans when he caught a season high six passes for 89 yards but he did not score. He has never scored on the road. And yet, he has always scored in every home game and enjoyed his best yardage efforts there as well until last Monday night. Look for a good game from Gonzo with a very good chance for a touchdown.